Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-07-06
DEFENDS HIS CHURCH. ?

DEFENDS HIS CHURCH.
Mr.. Barret, of st. Luke's, Atlanta, Preache
Sermon
W.
IN ANSWER TO THE ANCIENT wITTICIsN
THAT THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH has MOTH
ING TO DO WITH POLITICS OR RELIGION
AN ABLE AND INTERESTING DIscoURsE-
WHAT THE CHURCH HAS DONE.
- 4+s .
From the Atlanta CONSTITUTIONS, June 10th,
st Luke's cathedral was crowded at the
morning service yesterday. The 4choristers
sang particularly well. Rev. r. IS. Barrett
preached from st. Matthew yii:sl He
said -. 4 :, g.. =
A correspondent writing recently in the
Constitution repeats the ancient witticism
that ought to be feeble now from its sheer
old age she likes the Episcopal church
because it has nothing to do with politics
or religion" This venerable jest is kept
alive by the truth that is in it.. A truth
and lie linked together are like cork
and hook on the same line.. The; truth
! keeps the lie afloat and the lie catches the
| fools -.
1t is most true that the Episcopal church
has nothing to do with politics.. The most
strained relations, the intensest feeling, the
widest storm of political passion affect this
church no more than the wild waves disturb
the calm of the deep sea. Look at the
Episcopal church in those days of hot heart
burnings and terrible strife within our
memory.
In 1865 the general convention met to-
gether as though nothing had happened
Churchmen from Georgia and Massachu-
setts, shook hands and the work went on
without question, without jar. Was
this Indifference? Were Jefferson Davis
and Chief Justice Chase and General Han
cock and Joe Johnston and Robert E Lee.
Indifferent? These men were Episcopalians.
1t was not indifference; but recognition
of the principle that the Episcopal church
has nothing to do with politics, but that
her domain is religion and nothing else.
But our ancient jester says this church
has nothing to do with religion. Let us
see. What is religion? One thinks it is
regular attendance upon confession and
other requirements of the church. Another
thinks it is ascetic severity. Another
thinks religion is the glib recital upon
street corners of happy experiences and
ecstatic visions. Another thinks it is 10y
atty to certain traditions of Oliver Crom-
wells protectorate; the using of the stereo-
typed religious phraseOlogy of the "Bare-
bones Parliament" or the abstaining from
those particular amusements which Charles
II. most enjoyed. Others think that religion
is the submission of the will of God the
conservation of mans whole nature, his
amusements, his tastes, bis pleasures too
the conservation of all, not the destruction
of any part of his life. Thus men differ
about the definition of religion thus one
propounces not his shiboleth or performs
not his favorite virtue.
1. Thus one man thinks the Episco-
palians are not religious because they do
not talk about their religion and proclaim
aloud their professions to the world. If we
are wrong in this, we have at least the in
junction of Christ that we must not let our
left hand know what our right hand doeth.
We remember texts in the Good Book about
the Father who seeth in secret. And the
loud professions of Simon Peter, II will
die with Thee!'' with the echo, 81 know
not the man." and the hosannas of Palm
Sunday, with their sad Good Friday an
tithesis, 'Crucify Him!' These recollec-
tions make US hesitate to make any profess
sions, but rather to work on for God and
say very little about it.
g. Some persons imagine the Episco-
palians are not very religious because we
illuminate no anathemas upon those particu-
lar popular amusements which Puritanism
has laid under ban. This subject shall
discuss next Sunday. 1t is enough now TO
say that we recognize no authority in Puri- |
tan tradition and pleasure. To Divine law
we bow, but not to 18th century interpre- |
tation of it.
3. Some people imagine we are not reli-
gious because we do not use a certain reli-
gious phraseology that has holy sound
We do not say ''Brother Blank' and
sabbath and the like. Well, all that is
passing away. These things do not make |
those great and good men, the Puritans,
great and good. And if we will follow
them let us emulate their moral strength !
and manly vigor and not initiate their nasal
twang or their sanctimonious aspect or
their can't.
4. Some people imagine that the Epis-
copal church is not religious, because it at
tends so closely to its own business. To
this I say that our plan is systematic, COM
plete and symmetrical, and that experience
has taught us that our business will best
be done by our doing it. My own expert
ence is that while much capital is made on
so-called exclusiveness, yet the Episcopal
church gets on as well with her neighbcrs
as any other, has as few quarrels with
them, says as few hard things about them,
and sympathizes as much with them as any
other church; and yet attends to her own
business. Did you ever hear an Episco-
palian say that the other churches have
nothing to do with politics or religion9 I
have personal knowledge of thousands, yes
millions of dollars, that Episcopalians have
given away outside of their own church
An Episcopalian endowed Methodist col
lege, and during the last year the largest
gift to the Y. M. G. A. and the American
Bible Society were by members of this
church. This may not seem as religious as
fraternal greetings and tears, but it is also
not as cheap.
5. But what, you ask, has the Episcopal
church done to prove its religion? She has
given to the world men of lofty character.
Her men may enjoy life and love it; they